The path to entrepreneurship is often filled with unexpected twists and turns. For Mariana Alvarez, the journey has been one of overcoming challenging circumstances to find purpose and meaning in serving others. As the founder and CEO of Controller Works, an outsourced bookkeeping and accounting firm focused on supporting family-owned businesses, Mariana is driven by her individual experiences to be a source of strength and support for business owners navigating their own obstacles. Through determination, resilience, and faith, Mariana has overcome many personal and professional challenges to build a career focused on empowering others.
Mariana's determination to rise above her circumstances was instilled early on. Raised by entrepreneurial parents in a household where the importance of education was a constant conversation, Mariana absorbed their teachings. Despite her parents lacking higher education themselves, they stressed its value to her and her siblings. This foundation fueled her drive to excel.
Mariana developed a deep love of books, reading, and studying from an early age. "I grew up with that instilled in my mind," she recalls. This continuous focus on learning and her love for studying became her guiding lights, leading her to a bachelor's degree in business administration and a Master of Science in Accounting, setting the stage for her journey to success. However, the road to success was punctuated by immense challenges.
Once her children reached school age, Mariana started an accounting firm with her husband. Though the business was successful, behind closed doors, the relationship was characterized by escalating abuse. Mariana's marriage turned into a nightmare of abuse, violence, and humiliation. Mariana endured many painful years before finding the courage to break free. The courage to put a stop to the cycle of abuse was born not from a single moment, but a series of shocking events that shattered her tolerance for suffering.
The turning point came after her husband physically assaulted Mariana and her daughter during two terrifying incidents. "It got to a point where the physical hurt was imminent to me and my kids" Mariana shares. “And when that did happen in a few specific situations, one of them when he broke my tooth during one of his assaults. And within a week or so, there was another situation between him and my daughter, where he approached her with a hammer and smashed the phone out of her hands."
Seeing the danger, her 11-year-old daughter faced along with what else could happen to both her daughter and son, shook Mariana to her core, "It shocked me" Mariana recalls. She knew she had to leave to protect her children. While it would not be easy, staying was no longer safe. The fear of staying became greater than the fear of leaving. "The fear of me leaving the relationship and having to get out was not as big as the fear I started to have of staying." Mariana found the strength to break free, determined to create a better life for herself and her children.
Mariana's healing journey began as she navigated the legal and emotional turmoil of divorce, leading her to rebuild her life and find solace in her daughter's smiles. Mariana had to rebuild her life entirely. She returned to corporate work, often putting in 15+ hour days to provide for her children as she navigated a painful divorce and custody battle. During this time, work was a distraction and a means to stability. Though exhausted, seeing her children play and smile again gave Mariana the strength to keep going.
After two years of reestablishing herself in the corporate world, Mariana realized it was not her true passion. Having grown up watching her parents' entrepreneurial journey, business ownership was in Mariana's bones. "I grew up; my parents always had business, when I was in high school, my first job was working for my father's company." She knew she wanted to recapture that sense of purpose.
Reflecting inward, she decided to return to entrepreneurship on her terms. "I need to be true to myself and do what I always dreamt of doing," Mariana explains. This desire to follow her passion led to the founding of Controller Works.
Controller Works, is a virtual bookkeeping and accounting firm focused on supporting family-owned businesses. Drawing from her roots, Mariana feels a deep connection to the unique struggles of family business owners. "I understand when they say, well, I barely have money to make payroll this week, and I don't know what to do," she says. "I know exactly what they're talking about because I've been there." Beyond just accounting expertise, Mariana provides a judgment-free sounding board. Family businesses can feel isolated, but with Mariana as a partner, they know someone has their back.
Controller Works' mission is to help clients achieve their financial goals through collaboration, education, planning, and understanding of business accounting data. Mariana believes that by working as partners, she can enable business owners to make smart decisions that lead to prosperity.
Central to Controller Works' approach is the core values of transparency, kindness, integrity, and gratitude. Mariana aims to build open and honest relationships with clients grounded in compassion and ethics. This allows her to gain a deep understanding of each client's unique needs and challenges.
The firm's core focus is to provide personalized financial guidance customized to each client's situation. Using bookkeeping and accounting knowledge to assist them in achieving financial security and independence so they can build a legacy. Controller Works strives to be a trusted advisor. Their goal is to build long-term relationships with clients based on trust, integrity, and mutual respect.
Controller Works supports clients professionally and personally by seamlessly blending financial expertise with empathy and care. Mariana's journey enables her to be a source of strength for business owners navigating adversity. She finds purpose in empowering others to thrive.
Starting Controller Works has not been easy. Finding the first clients was a challenge. Mariana had to rapidly work on sales, marketing, and business development. She worked weekends and late hours nurturing the company from the ground up. But through perseverance, Mariana has been able to grow the business.
Though immersed in the demands of entrepreneurship, Mariana is committed to her healing and growth. "It's not easy when you just dismantle a family for whatever reason," she shares. Initially, diving into work was a coping mechanism. In time, Mariana has made space for processing her feelings, self-care, and giving back. She advises, "You have to accept what happened, feel your pain, and forgive yourself, so you can then move on."
Today, Mariana has found her purpose in sharing her story to help others facing similar struggles. "My main goal is to make sure that I don't stay quiet anymore," she says. "If I help just one woman or one child, that will be all worthwhile." Though the past contained pain and adversity, Mariana chooses to focus on the positive. "Happiness is a decision. You decide to be happy, regardless of where you are.”
Mariana wants her story to inspire others not to lose hope, even when things look dark. She was blessed to find good people who helped her, as she states: “I will be forever grateful to the business partner who believed in me and offered me a job after being so many years out of the corporate world.” She encourages women in abusive relationships to find the courage to break free and rebuild their lives. For entrepreneurs dealing with loss or failure, she urges them to believe in second chances.
Most of all, Mariana wishes to spread the message that we all have a purpose. "God intended us to be happy, fruitful, and kind to one another," she says. By living these principles through her business, Mariana brings more light into the world. Though the journey has had many twists and turns, she is filled with gratitude for where she is today.
Mariana Alvarez's story exemplifies how resilience, faith, and caring for others can transform adversity into a positive impact. Her journey shows that no matter what challenges arise, there is always hope for a better tomorrow. Mariana is proud to be an inspiration, but her greatest reward is seeing her children thrive and clients, especially women, succeed. By lifting others up, she lifts herself.
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